Osaka police re-arrest ex-Takenaka official over Expo Grand Ring billing
In short
Osaka prefectural police on Oct 7 re-arrested Kawai Tatsumi, 61, a former general construction office manager at Takenaka Corporation, on suspicion of breach of trust over inflated billing on Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai work, this time on the Grand Ring. Police allege he had a subcontractor overbill about 10.93 million yen for fence and braille-tile work carried out between June and July 2025. He was already indicted in September over about 13.6 million yen in inflated billing for temporary office work at the Expo site, and Takenaka dismissed him on Sept 11; police have not said whether he admits the allegations.
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Osaka prefectural police said on Oct 7 that they re-arrested Kawai Tatsumi, 61, a former general construction office manager at Takenaka Corporation, on suspicion of breach of trust in connection with another Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai construction project. According to the police, he conspired with a subcontractor between June and July 2025 to inflate costs on Grand Ring fence-related work, causing about 10.93 million yen in damage to Takenaka. Outlets reported the figure slightly differently, ranging from about 10 million yen to about 11 million yen. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 11 ]
Asahi Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun reported that the work in question was carried out between March 2024 and April 2025 and included installing wires in the gaps of the fall-prevention fence on the Sky Walk walkway atop the Grand Ring and laying braille tiles nearby. The alleged conspiracy was with a subcontractor's representative in Nara Prefecture, according to the reports. [ 2 , 11 ]
The re-arrest follows an earlier case. Kawai was arrested in August 2026 and indicted in September on breach of trust over inflated billing of about 13.6 million yen for temporary offices used by Grand Ring workers and other Expo site work, the reports said. Takenaka dismissed him on Sept 11, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Police believe the money obtained through the inflated billing went to private renovation work, including his own home, an apartment he owned and properties connected to relatives, and that total inflated Expo-related billing exceeded 60 million yen. Nikkei reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Kawai instructed the renovation company to issue invoices under the name of Expo construction work and was involved in selecting that company, and that the subcontractor's representative said he had no choice but to follow instructions from the site manager. The paper also reported that the renovation costs exceeded the money obtained and that the shortfall was borne by the subcontractor. Sankei and Yomiuri reported that the subcontractor received no share of the inflated money, and police suspect Kawai abused his position as the prime contractor's site head. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Nikkei reported that the Takenaka-led joint venture handled the “Pavilion World West Zone” and about one third of the Grand Ring, and that Kawai, as the venture's site head, had the authority to select subcontractors. Sankei reported that Takenaka apologised over the matter, saying that even though it had dismissed him, it was sorry for the trouble and concern caused. Police have not disclosed whether Kawai admits or denies the allegations. [ 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Nikkei reported that police believe he led the series of improper transactions and are investigating the full picture, with the inflated amounts across Expo-related work totalling more than 60 million yen. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The case concerns the Grand Ring, the symbol structure of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, and one of Japan's largest contractors, adding scrutiny to billing on a major public project. Police say they are investigating the full scope, with total inflated billing across Expo-related work put at more than 60 million yen. The documents give no basis for consequences beyond the criminal case and the company's dismissal.
Key facts
- Osaka prefectural police re-arrested Kawai Tatsumi, 61, a former general construction office manager at Takenaka Corporation, on breach-of-trust suspicion on Oct 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- The new suspicion covers inflated billing between June and July 2025 on Grand Ring fence-related work, causing about 10.93 million yen in damage to Takenaka. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 11 ]
- The fence work was carried out between March 2024 and April 2025 and included installing wires in gaps in the fall-prevention fence on the Sky Walk walkway and laying braille tiles nearby. [ 2 , 11 ]
- He had already been arrested in August 2026 and indicted in September over about 13.6 million yen in inflated billing for temporary office work and other Expo site work. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 11 ]
- Takenaka Corporation dismissed him on Sept 11, 2026. [ 1 , 3 , 11 ]
- Police have not disclosed whether he admits or denies the allegations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Investigators put total inflated Expo-related billing at more than 60 million yen, with the money used for renovation of his home, an apartment he owned and properties connected to relatives. [ 2 , 6 , 11 ]
- Police suspect he abused his position as the prime contractor's site head, and that the subcontractor received no share of the inflated money. [ 5 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Osaka prefectural police re-arrested Kawai Tatsumi on Oct 7 on suspicion of breach of trust. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 11 ]
- The suspected 2025 billing inflation concerned Grand Ring fence-related work. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- He was indicted in September 2026 over inflated billing of about 13.6 million yen for work including temporary offices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 11 ]
- Takenaka Corporation dismissed him on Sept 11, 2026. [ 1 , 3 , 11 ]
- Police have not disclosed whether he admits or denies the allegations. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kawai admits or denies the allegations The documents repeatedly state that police have not disclosed his admission or denial.
- The exact amount of the newly alleged damage Outlets give differing figures, from about 10 million yen to about 11 million yen, with several reporting 10.93 million yen.
- The full extent of the alleged billing inflation and whether further charges will follow Police are reported to be investigating the whole picture, with total Expo-related inflation put at more than 60 million yen, but only two sets of allegations are detailed.
- The subcontractor's account that he had no choice but to follow instructions This is attributed to people familiar with the matter in one outlet and is a single-source claim.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports the re-arrest of the former Takenaka employee over the alleged Grand Ring billing inflation. [ 1 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the re-arrest and details of the fence work, putting the alleged damage at about 10.93 million yen. [ 2 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports police suspect he abused his position as the prime contractor's site head and that the subcontractor received no share of the money. [ 5 ]
- Nikkei reports total inflated Expo-related billing topped 60 million yen and details the invoice instructions and the subcontractor's account. [ 6 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports Takenaka Corporation's apology over the matter. [ 11 ]